Decatur native Steve Latshaw planning sequel to 'The Killer Shrews'

DECATUR - In 1959, the world was first exposed to "The Killer
Shrews." The "B movie" horror flick was released as half of a
monster movie double feature, along with the equally inexpensive
"Giant Gila Monster."

For Decatur native Steve Latshaw, born the same year, these
films were the sort of drive-in movie fare easy to enjoy for their
campy production values, nonexistent budgets and cheesy special
effects. Never, though, did Latshaw imagine 52 years later he would
be helming a sequel long in the making - "Return of the Killer
Shrews."

"In the 1980s, a lot of us folks who were in the film industry
bought a book called The Golden Turkey Awards," Latshaw explained.
"It was a compendium of a lot of the cheesiest B movies out there.
'The Killer Shrews' was mentioned multiple times, so I made a note
to see it."

Today, it's relatively easy to see the original "Killer Shrews,"
as the film has entered the public domain and is readily accessible
on the Internet in its entirety. With this access, and appearances
on satirical television programs such as "Mystery Science Theater
3000" in the 1990s, the film developed both an infamous reputation
and a cult following. Aware of this, Latshaw braced himself for the
worst - and was surprised.

"I expected to laugh at it for being truly awful, like you would
at say, 'Plan 9 From Outer Space,' but I didn't," Latshaw said. "I
remember thinking, 'This isn't nearly as bad as people say it is.
There's a good movie in this story.' "

The filmmaker was at the time directing and writing similarly
low-budgeted horror films such as "Dark Universe" and the
pumpkin-headed slasher flick "Jack-O." In a coincidental meeting of
minds, the thought of reviving the "Killer Shrews" legacy was first
kindled in Latshaw's head by a member of the original film's cast,
"Dukes of Hazzard" veteran James Best, a longtime collaborator.

For the next 20 years, the two joked about a "Killer Shrews"
sequel, occasionally tinkering with scripts. Things finally turned
serious last year, and filming on "Return of the Killer Shrews" is
scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in the next few months, bringing
the cycle full. James Best returns to reprise his character of
Captain Thorne Sherman, drawn unwillingly back to an island
crawling with oversized, venomous, deadly shrews.

"I think it should go without saying that the shrews will look a
lot better in 2011 than they did in 1959," said Best, an actor
remembered for his role as the bumbling sheriff, Roscoe P.
Coltrane, in the original "Dukes of Hazzard" television series. "In
the first film the shrews were just dogs with fur and prosthetic
makeup attached to their faces. They had a budget of about 15
cents, I think."

Best certainly never expected a sequel to the film to get made -
nor did he want one, going as far to say that he prayed after the
production was over that he wouldn't be asked to return for another
"Shrews" film. The production was a mess of confusion headed up by
a first-time director, and Best vividly recalled certain scenes
that inadvertently featured his real-life terror.

"There's a scene where the shrews are chasing me up a hill, and
to get them to follow me the director dragged a caged raccoon
behind the camera to rile up the dogs," said Best of the unorthodox
strategy. "It worked too well. I was looking back, and it was
getting very real, seeing those angry dogs charging up after me. I
wasn't so sure they were after the raccoon."

Best changed his mind, however, after witnessing a cult audience
for the film grow, an audience that clearly appreciated it in spite
and because of its numerous flaws.

"I'm amazed how many hits you can get on Google by just typing
in 'Killer Shrews,' " he said. "It's a production I'll always
remember. I did 'Twilight Zone' and 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'
episodes, but this was stranger than any of them."

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Now 84 years old, Best will take a somewhat less active role in
the sequel, acting as the sage, shrew-experienced leader. Rounding
out the cast are two other former "Dukes of Hazzard" actors - John
Schneider (Luke Duke) and Rick Hurst (Cletus Hogg), along with
country singer Mel Tillis and Jennifer Lyons. For Latshaw, it's a
long-awaited return to the director's chair after nearly 10 years
of primarily screenwriting credits.

"Directing is definitely the most fun, no doubt about it,"
Latshaw said. "Writing is kind of like being a sculptor, except
you're only making the blueprints and someone else has to do the
creating. If a movie turns out well, all the credit goes to the
filmmaker. But if it bombs, it's the fault of the weak script."

"Return of the Killer Shrews" already may sound like an entirely
over-the-top home video or television release, but Latshaw has one
final surprise up his sleeve to target a modern audience - a 3D
theatrical release. Embracing the current three-dimensional film
zeitgeist, the Lakeview High School graduate is going to do
everything he can to have his film seen by audiences across the
nation, and not just those already familiar with the series.

"We're using the same 3D film system as the upcoming 'Pirates of
the Caribbean' movie," Latshaw said. "We want to get this in
theaters, and 3D is the best chance. Our attitude at this point is
to anticipate that possible opportunity."

To Latshaw, "Return of the Killer Shrews" represents the
culmination of a 20-year relationship with Best and a personal goal
of returning to film direction. Where he goes from here is up in
the air, with the director considering different genres such as a
Western picture or biopic. But it would seem Best has his own
ideas.

"James is already talking about 'Killer Shrews 3,' " Latshaw
said. "Presumably that would take less than 52 years to get off the
ground."

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